Elastic permanent way



Jan. 26, 1937. c, STEDEFELD I 2,068,714

ELASTIC PERMANENT WAY Filed Jan. 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 26, 1937.- c. STEDEFELD ELASTIC PERMANENT WAY 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 26, 1937. Q STEDEFELD 2,068,714

ELASTIC PERMANENT WAY Filed Jan. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STAT .Z TENT OFFIQE Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,998 In Germany January 11, 1932 12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in permanent way of that type in which the ends of elastic sleepers are supported on inelastic foundations or posts. Hitherto the inelastic foundations themselves rested directly upon the ground or upon posts rammed into the ground.

the usual correction of the level of the rails by working the ballast thus being impossible in both cases. The object of the present invention is to provide a permanent way with inelastic foundations easy to correct, wherein the inelastic foun' dations for the elastic sleepers consist of individual blocks or plates embedded in the ballast, the correction easily being effected with the ballast as well as by a number of other means. This permanent way has the advantages afforded by the use of inelastic sleepers on a working ballast of broken stones combined with the advantages obtainable by the use of elastic sleepers on rigid supports. In addition to this, the invention attains a number of other important advantages by the aid of improved design of the details of the permanent way, as illustrated diagramatically and by way of the example in the accompanying f drawings.

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a complete track according to the present invention, having elastic sleepers resting upon inelastic supports.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of one of the supporting blocks shown in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 shows a plant by which the supporting block can be vertically corrected.

Figure 5 shows in longitudinal section a device auxilary to the plant of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 shows the forward end of a further auxiliary device, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a section through the lower end of Fig. 6, on the line VII--VII.

Figure 8 is a vertical section of another form of supporting block.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 of still another form.

Figure 11 is a side view of Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is a side view of yet another form.

50 Figure 13 is a similar View of Fig. 13 of a modified form of track.

Figure 14 is a plan of Fig. 15.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the rails 2| are suitably secured to the resilient sleepers 55 22, while the sleepers themselves, for example of rolled steel joists, rest at their ends 23, 24 upon concrete blocks 25, 26 respectively. These blocks can extend a considerable distance in the longitudinal direction of the rails, and can extend beneath the ends of two or more resilient cross 5 sleepers. To enable their height to be adjusted the blocks 25, 26 are carried in separate pots 21,

28 of concrete, cast iron or other suitable material. These pots can be embedded in any desired material, preferably in a layer of ballast 29. It 10 may be desirable to provide gravel ballast 30 between the pots 21, 28. The transverse forces acting upon the permanent way due to the side pressures exerted by the wheels upon the rails are transmitted to the ground, partly by the lat- 15 eral banking of ballast 29 and partly by ribs 3|,

32 on the longitudinal rail direction provided at the bottom of the pots 21, 28. The recesses for receiving the ribs 3|, 32 in the pots can be provided in advance in the ballast by the aid of wooden 2O strips laid in the material during rolling, so that the pots can be directly placed in correct position after removal of the strips.

In order to provide for a convenient accurate and rapid vertical adjustment of the foundation 25 blocks, the means shown in Figures 2-7 have been designed, these means being in principle sand pots since each sleeper-supporting point is designed as a sand pot. The upper block 25 is fitted into the pot so closely and with as little so clearance as is possible with unmachined fitting surfaces. On the inner bottom surface of the pot a layer of sand 33 introduced prior to the insertion of the block receives the weight of the block together with that of the rail and of the 35 railway vehicles. Instead of being square, the supporting surface can be of circular, rectangular or other form but the circular and square forms have the advantage of permitting more uniform filling and emptying of sand. 40

Such sand supporting devices for the impact loads of railway tracks can only be kept in proper service condition if provision is made to prevent water entering the pot; otherwise the load rolling thereover would squeeze the sand mud formed in the pot out through the joints between the pot and the block and through the passages provided for the filling and the emptying of the pot. Furthermore the sand mud would in winter time swell due to frost. For these reasons the upper sloping rim 34 of the pot 21 is covered by a rain excluding rim 5! on the block 25 and the conveying passage 35 is carried out laterally and inclined sufficiently to exclude rain.

It is, of course, possible to combine adjacent pots 2! with one another, for instance to combine two pots into a double pot, which may be useful for maintaining the position of the pots upon the ground.

The problem of adjusting the blocks vertically in the pots without dismounting the rail necessitates the increase or decrease of the sand filling 33 without the removal of the block 25 from the pot 2?. To reduce the sand filling it would be possible to provide small closable apertures in the fioor or wall of the pot, as is the case with ordinary sand pots but as regards increasing the quantity of sand under a lifted block nothing useful could be achieved with simple apertures or channels; even if, plungers or compressed air were employed for introducing the sand through a straight channel, only quite small quantities of sand could be fed in this way and the sand would form a mound around the end of the channel and make the further conveyance of sand impossible. If a sand blowing device were connected up to the openings so that the sand is subdivided into grains suspended in the compressed air, a sort of circular valley from which project smaller lateral valleys will be formed at the most leaky parts of the gap between the pot and the block.

The new method for conveying sand into and out of the pot, which gives uniformly thick and economical filling and which withstands the rigors of railway operation is shown in Figures 4 to 7. Figure 4 is a simplified section of the complete plant. Essentially, two pipes, 36 and 31, if possible concentric, lead into the block. During filling, one pipe 35 introduces sand and air, while the other, 3? at the same time carries air without sand out of the pot; during emptying on the other hand the one 35 carries in air alone and the other 3? carries air and sand out of. the pot. Preferably the large pipe 35 leading from a side wall'to the middle of the bottom is moulded in the concrete of each block while it is being made, only a short end projecting a little for making connection. The smaller pipe 38 however is preferably fiexible and is thrust into the large passage 35 only when required, that is as an integral part of the portable plant 35-54. This plant consists of an ordinary motor-oompressor 39 for delivering air at a pressure of about 6 atm. above atmospheric, sand receptacle 63, a mixing Vessel device 45, ii, 52, such as is used in sand blast apparatus, and included in the air pipe 53 a suction device 44 on the end of the suction pipe 3?, which in the most simple form illustrated is an ejector connected to the air pipe 45. The sand flows from a container 4i into the mixing chamber around the air nozzle 55. To hold the flexible pipe centrally in the pipe 35 it is provided according to Figure 5 (cross section) with cross shaped guide members 55 which maintain the spacing without hindering its insertion into pipe 35. For filling the pipe 38 carries at its end a distributing head -55 shown in section in Figure 5. It ensures projection of the sand grains to the very edge of the pot and uniform distribution of the sand over the whole surface. To this end it comprises an annular guideway turning the sand out of the axial into the radial direction by means of a trumpet like flare of the tube end 57 and a distributing cone 48 in the centre thereof on a central pin 55 here carried by plates 59.

The procedure when lifting a sleeper supporting point is as follows: After the end of the sleeper, together with the appertaining block 25 has been lifted as much as necessary in the usual manner either by means of a winch or (as the weight is not considerable) by wedges between the pot and block rims 35 and 5|, the pipe 38 with the head i'i5ii is first thrust into the pipe 35 until the leading guide piece abuts on stop 52, and the slidable end 3? of the suction pipe pushed over the end of the pipe 35. If the valves 53 and 55 are now opened the mixing device produces a mixture of sand and air, the distributor head 47-55 distributes the sand uniformly over the existing layer of sand 33 and the ejector through the pipe 31 at the same time draws off the conveying air from the pot through the concentric annular conduit in pipe 35, so that there is no, or practically no, excess pressure in the pot 59 which would blow the sand out in an irregular manner through the gap between the pot 2'1 and the block 25. Completion of filling indicates itself by the bubbling of the sand in the hopper 4| supplying the mixing vessel 52. The layer of the sand deposited in the pot is so dense and firm that it does not perceptibly settle under any load. As the filling-up proceeds very quickly (about 1 cm. per 1 min.) the correction of the level of a section of the track is possible and economical in intervals between trains. Moreover it is possible to let a train run on the track when the blocks have only been lifted and before the pots have been filled if the sleepers are supported on the ballast or the blocks on the pot rims by wedges or the like.

To lower the sleepers instead of the distributing head in the end of the pipes 35, 38 an excavating head 56, 57 according to Figures 6 and 7 (vertical section and section on VII-VII) .is used. In this case no sand is of course supplied to the mixing chamber 52 so that only compressed air flows through the pipe 43 or compressed air supplied to the pipe 35 without passing through the chamber 52 at all. This air is to Whirl up the sand in the pot to such an extent that the grains are carried out as suspended bodies in the air sucked through the annular conduit 35 and discharged through the ejector it into the open, that is into a measuring vessel 55. The flexible pipe 5? with the excavating head 56, 57 is not only thrust into the pipe 35 up to the stop 52, but preferably right into the sand layer 33. In the excavating head, a guide cone 5'! with passages 55 is mounted in the centre of the trumpet like flare of the tube edge 5?. As Will be seen from Figure 7 these passages give the air currents not only a radial direction but also a considerable tangential velocity; in the manner of a whirlwind the air whirls up the grains from the surface of the'layer 33 to the centre where they are carried off by the suction current in the annular conduit 35. The amount of the sand carried out can be ascertained by means of the vessel 55 and the emptying terminated when exactly the desired reduced level remains in the pot 2i. For this purpose the vessel 55 is preferably provided with a scale showing in millimetres reduction in the thickness of the sand layer in the pct 27. As the eddies produced by the excavating head act more strongly on the sand in the middle-of the pot than at its rim, shaking of the pot is desirable, say by striking the outside so as to cause the layer of sand remaining in the pot to settle uniformly. If the weather at the time being is very damp, it is also desirable to dry the sand in the pot by heated air so that it can be Whirled up more easily. The air can be heated in a very simple manner by partially or wholly stopping the usual Water cooling of the compressor 39; then the air heated by the compression is directed into the sand through the excavating head 56, 51.

Of course such plants can be constructed in many different Ways while operating on the same principle. For instance, the pressure and suction pipes 36 and 31 and the conduits 65 and 38 can be connected in the opposite way to that shown when the scattering head 6'! or the excavating head will be arranged in the annular orifice between the walls of conduits 35 and Al, the excavating head 56, 51 may have metal blades or it may be composed of a number of curved pieces of pipe etc; furthermore the compressed air may be supplied through the annular slot in the ejector 54 and the sucked out air or air and sand mixture discharged through the central opening. The essence of the method is unchanged by these variations.

The level can be corrected in another manner by inserting plates of metal, prepared wood or the like between the pot and the block. Such an arrangement is shown in Figures 8 and 9 (vertical sections). The pot 58 is here open at one side so that the plates 59 can be slipped in without its being necessary to lift the block much more than corresponds to the thickness of the plate or plates. Slipping out of the uppermost plate 6| is prevented by the downwardly inclined rim 62 of the block 66. The plates are provided with hollow bosses 63 which engage in the hollows of the next plate above. The entrance of moisture (rain-water) is prevented by the downwardly inclined rim 64 just as in Figures 2 and 3. To prevent the block from a lateral displacement if the T-head bolts 65 should become loose the bearing surfaces of the block 60 and the pct 58 may be inclined with respect to the rails.

Another modification is shown in Figures 10 (vertical section) and 11 (side view). The side of the pot 65 to the outside of the track is not completely open but has a cross piece 66 which prevents sliding of the block 61. The open slot between the under edge of the cross piece 66 and the edge of the pot floor 65 must be of a height equal to the amount the block may need to be lifted. The said opening is normally closed by a curved elastic sheet-metal plate 68 which is only removed for adjustment of the block 61 by curving it further by means of pincers engaging in the slots 69. The plates 10 of metal, hard wood or the like need not, in this modification, be coupled with one another in any manner, as they are securely retained by said elastic plate 68.

With all forms of block supports, correction of the level can be effected according to Figure 12 (side view). The block H is first lifted in any known manner to the correct level and then supported by narrow iron bars or wooden strips 12. If necessary the track can be used in this condition. The hollow space between the strips I2 is then filled with a quickly setting liquid concrete 13, or in lieu thereof, concrete is pressed into said space by a known method (e. g. the torcrete method). In order to prevent the fresh concrete 13 from adhering to the block H a sheet-metal plate 14 is inserted between the strips 12 and the block II. This plate and the strips can be removed after the concrete 13 has hardened.

In Figure 13 (cross section) and Figure 14 (plan) two parallel concrete walls 86 connected with one another by ribs l8 and subdivided by gaps 16 to provide for changes due to the temperature, extend downwardly below the frost limit and preferably down to the natural soil 8i and are broadened at the foot so that the pressure on the soil is sufiiciently low. The top of each wall forms a series of sand pots 82, receiving the supporting blocks 25 for the elastic sleepers 22 as described above.

I claim:

I. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, a transverse elastic sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of said sleepers, pot members receiving said blocks, and a layer of sand between the bottoms of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being two conduits through each of said blocks opening in the lower face thereof, whereby sand may be introduced and removed to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

2. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, transverse elastic sleepers sup porting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleepers, pot members receiving said blocks, and a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a pair of concentric conduits through each of said blocks opening into the lower face thereof whereby sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

3. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, transverse elastic sleepers supporting said rail, 2, separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleepers, pot members receiving said blocks, and a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a conduit through each of said blocks extending from one side face to the bottom face thereof whereby sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

4. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, transverse elastic sleepers supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleepers, pot members receiving said blocks, a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a curved conduit through said blocks opening into the lower face thereof, and a flexible pipe of smaller diameter than said conduit adapted to be thrust into said conduit whereby sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

5. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, transverse elastic sleepers supporting each end of the said sleepers, pot meming each end of the said sleepers, pot members receiving said blocks, a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a pair of conduits through each of said blocks opening into the lower face thereof, means for injecting compressed air through one of said conduits, and means for removing air through the other said conduit whereby sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

6. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, a transverse elastic sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleeper, pot members receiving said blocks, a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a pair of conduits through each of said blocks opening into the lower face thereof, means for injecting compressed air and sand through one of said conduits, and means for removing air through the other said conduit where by sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

7. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, a transverse elastic sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleeper, pot members receiving said blocks, a layer of sand between the bottom of said blocks and the floors of said pots, there being a pair of concentric conduits through each of said blocks, opening into the lower face thereof, a nozzle on the end of the inner of said conduits having an outwardly directed passage therein, means for projecting compressed air through one of said conduits, and means for removing air through the other whereby sand may be removed or inserted to vary the depth of the layer of sand.

8. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, a transverse elastic sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleeper, pot members receiving said blocks, and plates beneath the bottoms of said blocks, there being an opening in the side of each of said pots for the introduction and removal of said plates.

9. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, a transverse elastic sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of the said sleeper, pot members receiving said blocks, plates beneath the bottoms of said blocks, there being an opening in the side of each of said pots for the introduction and removal of said plates, and means preventing said plates from unintentionally passing through said openings.

10. In an elastic railroad track the combination of a rail, an elastic transverse sleeper supporting said rail, a separate inelastic block supporting each end of said sleeper, concrete foundations supporting said blocks in recesses therein and adjustable means interposed between the bottoms of said blocks and the floors of said recesses.

11. In an elastic rail track the combination of rails, transverse elastic sleepers supporting said rails, separate inelastic blocks supporting said sleepers at points spaced from said rails and forming substantially the sole supporting. means for said sleepers and said rails, pot members underlying and receiving each of said blocks, a layer of supporting material interposed between the under side of the blocks and the bottom of the pot members, and means for altering the thickness of said supporting material without dismantling the track. i

12. In an elastic rail track the combination of rails, transverse elastic sleepers supporting said rails, separate inelastic blocks supporting said sleepers at points spaced from said rails and forming substantially the sole supporting means for said sleepers and said rails, pot members underlying and receiving each of said blocks in a close fit, projecting rims on said blocks extending over the joint between the blocks and the walls of the pot members, a layer of supporting material interposed between the under side of the blocks and the bottom of the pot members, and means for altering the thickness of said supporting material without dismantling the track.

CURT STEDEFELD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Eatent No. 2,068,714; January 26, 1957.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, line 61, claim 5, strike out the words and syllable "each end of the said sleepers, pot mem" and insert instead the words and syllable said rail, a separate inelastic block support; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of March, D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

